I Didn't Shiver Today!

For the first time in a week, I didn't shiver when I went outside today. I got some photos during one of those shiver sessions: 

There was snow!

Not the kind of deep snow that fell up north but enough to remind us that it's still winter.

My courtyard fountain is apparently the coldest of all my water features. Here it is right before things started to warm up.

 

Weather wuss that I am, that is all the photos I took of the snow.

I don't think the low temperature dropped below 28 degrees so my plants did just fine, even the tenders I keep on my covered patio. I put a blanket over some of them, and also my Melianthus. It is still a bit bent out of shape but alive. 

Melianthus major

On the aforementioned covered patio, Fuchsia 'Tricolor' is blooming. This is a baffling plant. It didn't bloom at all during the summer months and just a few in the fall. I don't mind though. Winter bloomers are very special.

 

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

I'm always surprised how early the Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii) sends up its tiny blades.

Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii)

There are plants that would be blooming now if it hadn't been for that cold snap. For instance my new Prunus mume 'Kobai' (not pictured). And of course Daphne odora. 

Daphne odora

And this Rosemary in my front yard. See all those buds? And the sweet little friend? I noticed not one but two bright red lady beetles sleeping on those fragrant stems.  

Rosemarianus officinalis and friend

 And we can't forget our little Dougie-the-birdseed-stealer. (Douglas Squirrel)

This duo are regular visitors to my front yard. They've come to expect the apples we toss to them. On this visit I had my camera handy. (All of those brown balls are from my Sweet Gum trees.)

That about does it for this go around. Spring is not far off now and I'm SO ready! 

Thanks for visiting.

Believe It or Not

Here it is, the middle of December. Despite an ice storm last week, I've still got a few flowers hanging on. Granted the temperatures didn't drop that low, just barely enough to freeze the pouring rain onto bare tree branches. But it was interesting. 

The following day, it melted and my plants are no worse for the wear. However, we have more cold weather coming later this week. Boo!

Here's what's going on. 

The final flower on this Rehmannia (Chinese Foxglove) is looking a bit tattered. Oh I forgot to mention that we had hail yesterday too. 

Rehmannia elata

This Geranium flower is also a bit tattered. I wonder if the bud will bloom before the cold snap.

Geranium 'Jolly Bee'

Despite the weather, I still have two summer-blooming Clematis hanging on. The C. Venosa Violacea typically has much more purple but this one is pretty, I think.

Clematis 'Venosa Violacea'

I bought this C. florida sieboldii in September. It had buds so I let it bloom and it just keeps on. 

Older bloom of Clematis florida sieboldii

Newer blooms of Clematis florida sieboldii

I purchased this dainty small-flowered rose bush last summer. It's been in bloom nonstop since then. The flowers are dime-sized in diameter--tiny and sweet. I've got it under the protection of my patio roof. 

NOID  Rosebush

Fuchsia 'Olympics Sunset'

My Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) shrub is loaded with buds! A few flowers have opened early but oh boy do I have a fragrant fest in my near future. 

Chimonanthus praecox

I was a little lax in getting my slug bait down, as evidenced by this poor Hellebore. But, it has buds!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

More buds!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

But more importantly, the foliage, look at the foliage!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow' foliage

My green-leaved Daphne odora has buds too!

Daphne odora

And check out the tiny flowers on this Heather.

Erica carnea 'December Red'

 And tons of buds on this Viburnum.

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Check out the reluctant buds on my Tetrapanax. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the cold weather. I hope they'll bloom so the winter bees and hummers can have a treat.

Tetrapanax papyfifera 'Steroidal Giant'

My daylilies are really messed up. Look at the buds! This must be the result of a warm fall.

Hemerocallis 'Coming Up Roses'

Hemerocallis 'Final Touch'

I'm thrilled that last summer I got myself an evergreen Maidenhair fern. I'm going to keep it in its pot under the patio for this year. Then plant it out next spring. 

Adiantum venusum Himalayan Maidenhair Fern

The Beesia is blushing...

Beesia deltophylla

Although surrounded by dying deciduous neighbors, my Schefflera looks happy.

Schefflera delavayi

I'm in love with this Farfugium. Look at those leaves! 

Farfugium japonicum 'Crispatum'

And this Fatsia:

Fatsia japonicum 'Spider's Web'

Here you can see what the 32 °F did to my hardy banana.

Musa basjoo ~~ Before

Musa basjoo ~~ After

Finally, a photo of my patio pond. There is a large Japanese maple that drops a ton of leaves here. I was finally able to get out and gather them. Now I can look outside and not be nagged by that mess.

Patio pond

I hope you're enjoying your garden. 

Looking for Beauty

At this time of year, beauty is a little more difficult to define and even more challenging to locate. It requires an open mind and a willingness to ignore the ugly, leafy decay that dominates the garden. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those foggy winters where the sky is shrouded by a milky mist for days on end, especially up here on the hill. Although it can be a tiresome contributor to my winter blues, it's comparatively benign weather and I prefer it over the many manic alternatives. 

Looking for beauty.... 

The November frost didn't completely kill my Brachyscomb. 

My Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lantern') is still hanging on too. 

My Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue' tried valiantly to bloom until November's frost halted its attempt.  

But there is promise of things to come. Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' is fixing to bloom in a few months. 

Ditto for my Hellebore foetidus.

And Hellebore x sternii 'Hot Flash' ... hopefully. 

But until the flowers appear, I'll make do with what remains. 

I'm not quite sure why my strawberry plants are blushing so vibrantly but I'm not complaining. 

Rosa 'Cinco de Mayo' is happy too. 

Not to mention Spiraea thunbergii 'Bridal Wreath' 

And my Eucalyptus nicholii survived last winter's single digit temps and grew back from the roots to over five feet.
I love the contrast between the maroon stems and the bluish foliage.  

The Acanthus mollis isn't looking too terrible. 

Neither is the Yucca filamentosa 'Ivory Tower' 

The Cyclamen hederafolium foliage is very happy despite the surrounding leaf litter. 

Leaves are everywhere. Except in the birdbath--now that I cleaned it. 

And my patio pond. So much nicer now.  

Are you able to get any gardening done?